The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

REPORT ON THE 2003 BUDGET CONSULTATION PROCESS

SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND G OVERNMENT SERVICES

2002

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

British Columbia. Legislative Assembly. Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. Report on the 2003 budget consultation process

First report for the 3rd Session, 37th Parliament. Cf. Covering letter. Submitted to Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Cf. Covering letter. ISBN 0-7726-4877-8

1. Finance, Public - British Columbia - Public opinion. 2. Fiscal policy - British Columbia - Public opinion. 3. Budget - British Columbia – Public opinion. 4. Budget - British Columbia. I. Title.

HJ2056.5.B7B74 2002 336.711 C2002-960250-5

Office of the Clerk of Committees

SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES

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Internet Homepage: This report and others are available at our Internet Homepage which also contains further information about this and other Select Standing and Special Committees: http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/cmt

November 14, 2002

To the Honourable, The Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia Victoria, British Columbia

Honourable Members:

I have the honour to present herewith the First Report of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services for the Third Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament.

The First Report covers the work of the Committee on the matter of the 2003 Budget Consultation Process.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Committee.

Mr. Blair Lekstrom, MLA Chair

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Composition of the Committee ...... i

Terms of Reference ...... ii

Acknowledgements ...... iii

Introduction...... 1

Summary of Consultation Process...... 1

The Public’s Response to the Fiscal Plan ...... 2

The Public’s Priorities for the Next Three Budgets...... 6

The Public’s Ideas on how to Generate Revenue ...... 11

Conclusions and Recommendations...... 13

Appendix 1 – Schedule of Meetings ...... 14

Appendix 2 – Organizations Taking Part in the 2003 Budget Consultation Process...... 15

Appendix 3 – Witness List ...... 20

COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE

M EMBERS Blair Lekstrom, MLA Chair Peace River South Ida Chong, MLA Deputy Chair Oak Bay-Gordon Head Harry Bloy, MLA Burquitlam Jeff Bray, MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill Arnie Hamilton, MLA Esquimalt-Metchosin Brian Kerr, MLA Malahat-Juan de Fuca Joy MacPhail, MLA Vancouver-Hastings Lorne Mayencourt, MLA Vancouver-Burrard Sheila Orr, MLA Victoria-Hillside Ralph Sultan, MLA West Vancouver-Capilano Patrick Wong, MLA Vancouver-Kensington

C LERK TO THE C OMMITTEE Craig James, Clerk of Committees and Clerk Assistant

C OMMITTEE R ESEARCHERS Josie Schofield, Research Analyst Audrey Chan, Assistant Researcher

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS i TERMS OF REFERENCE

On May 30, 2002, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services was empowered to examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the pre-budget consultation report prepared by the Minister of Finance in accordance with section 2 of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act and, in particular, to:

1. Conduct public consultations across British Columbia on proposals and recommendations regarding the provincial budget and fiscal policy for the coming fiscal year by any means the committee considers appropriate, including but not limited to public meetings, telephone and electronic means;

2. Prepare a report no later than November 15, 2002 on the results of those consultations.

In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the committee shall be empowered:

(a) to appoint of their number one or more subcommittees and refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the committee;

(b) to sit during a period in which the House is adjourned and during any sitting of the House;

(c) to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and

(d) to retain personnel as required to assist the committee; and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment or at the next following session, as the case may be, to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.

ii BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Committee would like to thank all the citizens of British Columbia who took the time from their busy lives to participate in the 2003 Budget consultation process. We appreciated the effort the public made to study the pre-budget briefing materials, to attend and listen to the testimony, and to air their views. The Committee was also continually impressed by the depth and quality of the oral and written submissions.

Our mandate was to listen to what British Columbians had to say about the government’s fiscal plan for the next three years. For us, the process of hearing and reading what people had to say has been an enjoyable and valuable learning experience.

The unsung heroes of the Committee’s public hearing process included the staff of Hansard Services who produce the transcripts of all the Committee’s meetings. We would like to thank in particular the seven console operators who traveled with us to the 13 public hearings — Catherine Schaefer, Marilyn Pollard, Jane Berry, Lisa Coburn, Wendy Collison, Amanda Heffelfinger and Virginia Garrow.

The Committee also wishes to give a huge thanks to the staff in the Office of the Clerk of Committees. Mary Newell and Pamela Grant did an unbelievably good job of organizing our hectic tour across the province. Last, but certainly not least, we would like to acknowledge the contributions of Josie Schofield and Audrey Chan, who were involved throughout all stages of the Committee’s work and who provided invaluable administrative and research support.

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS iii

INTRODUCTION

The report on the 2003 Budget consultation process is divided into four parts. It begins with a summary of the consultation process. The next section provides a summary of the public’s response to the fiscal plan. Then, the focus shifts to the public’s priorities for the next three budgets and their ideas about how to generate revenue. The final section of the report contains the Finance Committee’s general conclusions and recommendations.

SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION PROCESS

Since 2000 the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has conducted provincewide pre-budget consultations on an annual basis in accordance with the requirements of the original and amended Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

On May 30, 2002 the all-party Finance Committee was instructed by the House to conduct public consultations across British Columbia with respect to the 2003 Budget, and to report on the consultation process by November 15, 2002. During the fall, we held a series of meetings to fulfil our mandate, following the schedule contained in Appendix 1.

On September 13, 2002 the Minister of Finance formally presented the Budget 2003 Consultation Paper to the Committee. After reviewing the results of the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Minister Gary Collins asked the Committee to seek public input on what changes British Columbians would make in the next two budgets, in terms of program priorities, within the overall spending targets set out in the government’s current three-year fiscal plan. He also wanted to hear the public’s views on what the government’s fiscal priorities should be in 2005/06, when a modest surplus is anticipated.

To solicit public input, the Finance Committee decided to visit 13 different communities across the province. Between September 19 and October 17, 2002, we held public hearings in the following communities: Victoria and Campbell River on the Island; Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond and Abbotsford in the lower mainland; Kelowna and Kamloops in the interior; Kimberley and Nelson in the Kootenays; and Fort St. John, Prince George and Smithers in the north. The Committee also invited British Columbians who were unable to attend the hearings to submit written briefs by October 25, 2002.

During the pre-budget consultation process, the Committee heard from 303 individuals and organizations, which represented local governments, key sectors of the BC economy, stakeholders in the education and health sectors, as well as community groups and concerned citizens. In total, 214 oral presentations were made at the 13 public hearings, and 89 written submissions were sent directly to the Office of the Clerk of Committees.

A list of the organizations that participated in the 2003 Budget consultation process and the complete witness list are included as appendices at the end of this report. Transcripts of the public hearings and an electronic copy of this report are available on the Internet at: www.legis.gov.bc.ca/cmt.

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 1 THE PUBLIC’S RESPONSE TO THE FISCAL PLAN

During the consultation process, the Committee received a lot of input from the public on the performance of the government over the past year, and on the financial direction the province is taking for the foreseeable future. Other topics covered ranged from “hot-button” provincial issues— such as the softwood lumber dispute, the 2010 Winter Olympic bid and the Kyoto accord on climate change —to industry concerns about specific ministry policies, through to purely local issues.

The Committee has found it a daunting task to synthesize the diversity of opinion we heard and read during the past two months, and to capture the presenters’ passion and the quality of the arguments presented. Nonetheless, we think it is important to convey to our colleagues in the House, and the public at large, the memorable messages we received from British Columbians who participated in the pre-budget consultation process.

Based on the testimony we have heard and read, we have identified four key themes that are designed to communicate the public’s response to the existing fiscal plan:

T HEME 1: STAY THE COURSE ON BALANCING THE BUDGET BY 2004/05 The business community and a lot of concerned citizens clearly stated that they wanted government to stay the course on balancing the budget and getting its fiscal house in order. The Committee heard this message time and time again at the public hearings. Generally speaking, people thought that government has chosen the right track to achieve its goals of restoring sound fiscal management and revitalizing the economy. At the same time they acknowledged that the government would continue to have to make difficult decisions concerning spending priorities in order to balance the province’s books by 2004/05, and to address the need for additional funding to soften the impact of economic uncertainty and government restructuring. Some of their comments were:

“In terms of our specific recommendations, CGA-BC believes that it is critical that the government stays the course in its approach to balancing the budget and restoring our competitive position.” (Certified General Accountants of BC)

“I hope this government understands how important it is to manage my money properly. Like everyone else, I want the best infrastructure, the best health care and the best social services, but I don’t want to have those on the backs of my kids who will have to pay for them. Balancing the budget and then paying down the debt must be this government’s number one priority.” (Terry Lalari)

“The BC Real Estate Association and the Victoria Real Estate Board support the target of balancing the budget by 2004/05. We also urge the government to continue to monitor economic conditions carefully, remaining flexible in its operation, and including a forecast allowance in each provincial budget.” (BCREA and VREB)

2 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS “The Business Council of BC applauds the government for setting firm three-year spending targets for all ministries, and for providing three-year funding commitments to health care and educational institutions. The Business Council recognizes, though, that the spending restraint program is imposing hardship on some communities, as certain government offices and courthouses close. It is important that the reorganization of government infrastructure and services be done in an even-handed way that does not place an undue share of the burden on smaller communities and less urbanized areas of the province.” (BC Business Council)

T HEME 2: COMMUNICATE YOUR VISION AND PLAN MORE EFFECTIVELY TO THE PUBLIC What also came across was the message that government isn’t doing a good enough job of communicating its long-term economic vision, or its overall economic plan. People also wanted more information about why the government is reducing the size of the public sector, the reasons for the decision to close one local courthouse or hospital rather than another, and the options considered before these types of decisions were made. Chambers of commerce across the province stressed both these points:

“We would like to reiterate our recommendation to develop and publicize an economic plan. It would help direct future spending priorities. Most importantly, it would ensure that British Columbia regain its stature as the best place to invest in Canada. We are convinced we are on the right track. Let’s just ensure we have a map.” (BC Chamber of Commerce)

“One of the most frustrating aspects has been the government’s lack of communication with the taxpayers, which is creating uncertainty and ultimately fear. The perception is that the changes and cuts are being made out of desperation to meet the bottom line rather than as the solution for economic recovery. We recommend that in future changes, the provincial government publicly disclose the need for cuts and the reasons used to determine where cuts occur and why.” (Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce)

T HEME 3: ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT POLICIES FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH Several presenters told the Committee that they’ve heard and support the government’s message that BC is open for business. However, in their encounters with certain ministries, they were finding that the government’s message has not been communicated clearly enough to the field offices. At the Campbell River hearing, for example, two presenters commented on the local roadblocks faced by industry:

“My first recommendation on what should be done to make your three-year fiscal plan work is to finish your job on reduction and redirection of the public service. Your direction and intentions are not being carried out and are not showing up in the field. The aquaculture industry, the forest industry, and even local communities like ours, face daily frustrations from this problem.” (Mayor Russ Hellberg, District of Port Hardy)

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 3 “We hear the government calling for investment by declaring that red tape and the general regulatory burden are being cut and streamlined. These are good messages and encouraging signs, yet there is much evidence to suggest — in the mining industry at least — that the promised changes have yet to take place on the front lines. There is a prevailing notion at the local level that all parts of government are not pulling in the direction articulated by elected officials and ministers.” (Boliden-Westmin Canada Ltd.)

Other people suggested that senior policy-makers inside the bureaucracy also needed to know that BC is open for business. They cited numerous examples of policies or situations that are inhibiting a more rapid economic recovery. These include: • transportation policy regarding upgrading of private roads, and highway signage policy regarding the advertising of local museums; • delays in resolving land use conflicts and approving permits for minerals exploration; • delays in reducing red tape; • legislative inaction with respect to self-regulation of the auto industry; • slow delivery of emergency relief to tackle the mountain pine beetle epidemic; and • uncertainty over the potential impact of the Community Charter.

T HEME 4: ADDRESS THE GROWING GAP BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN BC The Committee was also struck forcibly by the public’s message that the government has to address the growing gap between rural BC and the urban areas of the province. At the hearings held outside the major urban centres, we often heard that the impact of government restructuring is more painful for small towns and outlying rural areas than for the larger urban centres of the province. Many presenters living in rural BC — whether on Vancouver Island, in the interior, the East Kootenay region or in the north — said that while they supported the idea of a balanced budget, the closure of courthouses, hospitals and ministry offices was causing economic hardship for their communities. They pointed out that the loss of, say, 20 government jobs in a community of 3,000 people has a more significant impact than the loss of 200 positions in a big city like Vancouver.

Cuts to services like child care and legal aid were also perceived to have a more severe impact on small towns in rural BC than in metropolitan areas. People living in rural communities told the Committee that they realized they could never have the range of services that are available in Vancouver and Victoria, but they found it difficult to accept the cutbacks in the few support services they have. For example, in the West Kootenay region alone, there was uncertainty about the funding for six child care centres and other services for children and families. Other people stressed the importance of the child care subsidy for families earning low wages. They included an accountant in Campbell River who demonstrated that single parents working full-time and earning even the minimum training wage could remain in the labour force, so long as they received government assistance in the form of child tax credits and a child care subsidy.

To assist rural BC during the difficult transition period, some presenters in Nelson and Smithers suggested that the government could look at decentralizing some central ministry operations — particularly in the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Forests, which already conduct

4 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS the bulk of their work outside the metropolitan areas. The Prince Rupert Economic Development Commission, for example, argued that decentralization made good business sense, as public sector services are counter-cyclical. When the commodity cycle is at its lowest, these services keep communities balanced, and they also provide solid support in boom times.

Other witnesses expressed the desire for the East Kootenays and the northwest to have the type of fair-share agreement the Peace region has with respect to the oil and gas industry. They claimed that as their resource-rich regions generate much of the province’s export revenue, they should have the capacity to retain some of that wealth for reinvestment in local physical and social infrastructure, rather than waiting year after year for disbursements to come back from Victoria. Revenue sharing, or at least some kind of assistance, would enable wealth-generating rural communities to take care of their own local economies, in the view of some presenters:

“We ask the government to begin working on developing programs and revenue-sharing options and entering into agreements with rural BC to give us the ability to improve our own economic performance.” (Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce)

“The District of Houston and other resource communities in the north are seeking budgetary consideration of a fair-share type of arrangement to share revenues from the local forest resources so that the communities may bolster their road maintenance and other infrastructure.” (Mayor Tom Euverman)

“We believe that we’re a revenue-generating community, that we provide resources that keep our province going and that all BC communities should be treated equally. As citizens of this province, we believe the rural areas should have access to services like those in the lower mainland, and we’d ask that our message be carried back to cabinet.” (Concerned Citizens of the North Peace)

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 5 THE PUBLIC’S PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT THREE BUDGETS

In addition to including an overview of the fiscal plan, the Budget 2003 Consultation Paper asked British Columbians for their views on budget priorities for the next three fiscal years. The paper poses three specific questions for the public to answer. Question 1 asked people to suggest small changes to fine-tune program spending in the next two budgets, whereas questions 2 and 3 asked them to identify what the government’s fiscal priorities should be for any available funds in 2005/06 and how they would allocate the anticipated modest surplus.

The Committee thinks it is necessary to note that only a minority of the 300-plus witnesses responded directly to the Finance ministry’s questions in the course of their testimony. With the benefit of hindsight, we think the narrow scope of question 1, which asked people to move small amounts of money from one priority area to another, made it difficult for them to answer. The time frame of questions 2 and 3 — three years down the road — also posed a problem for some.

The public, however, was not shy about telling us what their budget priorities are for the next three fiscal years. Broadly stated, education, health care and roads ranked first for additional program spending now and in the future. Tax reform and debt reduction were also high on the list of things people want government to do, once the budget is balanced. The public’s fiscal priorities for the next three budgets are now outlined in themes 5 to 8:

T HEME 5: CONTINUE TO PUT EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE FIRST IN LINE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING The Committee was struck by the fact that there was more consensus among the witnesses about the need to allocate additional funding to the public education system than to health care. Besides stakeholders in the education sector, the business community, labour unions and concerned citizens all agreed that education is an essential service the government should provide, and an area where fiscal restraint is having a serious impact. They also said that investment in public education was the key to economic growth. In terms of program spending, their immediate and future budget priorities were clearly the K-to-12 system and skills training.

S CHOOLS: Regarding K-to12 education, the Committee heard from school trustees and teachers about their struggles to comply with the new funding formula laid out in the Ministry of Education’s three-year service plan. Rural schools in the Prince George area and in the Peace region felt that their unique needs were not being recognized in this formula, which ties funding to student enrolment. For example, the Peace River North Teachers’ Association pointed out that the formula does not take into account the increased enrolment that happens after September 30, when the freeze-up occurs and work resumes in the oil patch, or the exodus of families following break-up.

In urban areas, a major concern of educators and parents was the uncertainty surrounding next year’s funding for school-based programs provided by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

6 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Currently the ministry is providing annual funding to local school districts for such programs as community schools, inner-city schools, school meals and child and youth care workers. Both concerned parents and the staff of community schools, requested that these school-based programs be funded in the next budget at least at the same level as 2002/03, and that the government consider funding them on an ongoing basis.

S KILLS T RAINING: The urgent need for skills training was another consistent message we heard. Several presentations by the business community urged the government to progress quickly on the trades and apprenticeship side in order to meet employers’ future labour requirements. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association, though, pointed out that the housing industry is already facing a serious skilled trades shortage, especially framers. Other gaps identified by presenters at the Abbotsford hearing included the immediate need for a good apprenticeship system to train electricians, plumbers and carpenters, and a shortage of technicians to fill positions in the aerospace retrofit and maintenance industry.

Labour shortages were also a problem in rural BC. In Fort St. John, for example, the local chamber of commerce made a strong pitch for locating the new tech schools in the north country, so that the aboriginal population and other residents could be educated in their own backyard to work in the resource sector.

P OST- SECONDARY EDUCATION: Some key stakeholders supported the government’s fiscal initiatives in post-secondary education. For example, representatives of the province’s colleges endorsed the recent decision of government to invest in capital projects at selected institutions. The University Presidents’ Council of BC and some individual students were also positive about the lifting of the tuition freeze. However, student organizations and some labour unions disagreed with this decision and advocated reducing tuition fees.

In terms of spending priorities, the major message from the public post-secondary institutions was the need for more operational funding to meet the increasing demand for access to colleges and universities. The province’s universities also requested capital spending to upgrade the physical infrastructure, and they made a plea for more investment in research and development.

H EALTH CARE: Regarding health care, there was broad-based support for the government’s commitment to maintain its current level of funding. Generally speaking, the public was in favour of targeting additional funding in the 2003 Budget to relieve the current financial stresses facing local hospitals in the West Kootenays and other parts of rural BC, and the under-funding of the northern health authority, in particular. Some presenters, though, were hesitant to endorse an increase in the ministry spending targets once the budget is balanced. The Vancouver Board of Trade, for example, stated that no more money should be allocated to health care in the longer term, without significant improvements

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 7 in productivity and management processes and an improved hybrid public-private sector approach to the provision of facilities and services.

Another major concern was the perception that health care costs were being offloaded on to retirees/seniors in the form of cuts to home care support, increases in MSP premiums and Pharmacare fees, and the over-prescribing of drugs. Concerned citizens and community groups made several pleas for the government to at least maintain, if not expand, health care facilities and services for seniors, as well as for other vulnerable groups. Their specific requests for additional funding in the 2003 Budget included: • Allocate more funding for senior care, offer tax incentives for long-term care insurance, and streamline the funding for health and housing agencies providing assisted living services. • Allocate resources to provide health services for the drug addicts, the mentally ill and the many disadvantaged who congregate in Vancouver’s urban core. • Allocate $300 million over the next three years towards community support and rehab services for people with acquired brain injury. • Protect the respite services provided for parents of special needs children at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health in Victoria. • Restore routine eye exams for those aged 19 to 64 who are on income assistance, a service that costs about $1 million a year.

T HEME 6: INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE Investment in transportation infrastructure to give business a competitive edge was another recurring theme at all the public hearings. Presenters clearly identified this as their top priority for capital spending and perceived this type of expenditure as a way they could enhance business activity in their own communities. The City of Fort St. John, for example, urged the government to focus whatever surplus resources are available on transportation infrastructure — whether that’s the vital link provided by regional airports, BC Rail, urban highways or rural road systems.

Investment in roads was identified as a high priority in all regions of the province. Indeed, some witnesses firmly believed that the fiscal recovery is put at risk, due to the lack of highway capacity as the economy expands. They saw the construction and upgrading of the province’s highway system as the key to economic development in all parts of the province, to enable goods and services to move quickly and efficiently from region to region. However, their perception was that the provincial government has tended to focus for too long on highway maintenance rather than making major investments in the construction and upgrading of roads.

Being aware of the fiscal constraints facing the province, the transportation committee of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce proposed that one way to finance the investment in roads would be for the government to lobby Ottawa for a greater share of the road fuel tax revenues it collects from BC drivers. Its members told the Committee that the lower mainland pays the highest fuel tax in Canada, with the federal government collecting $1.3 billion in road fuel tax revenues in BC during the 1995-98 period but only investing $127 million — less than 10 percent — back into the

8 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS province’s roads. They urged the government to take a strong and loud leadership role and keep the revenue from the excise tax on fuel for BC roads. The Nelson Chamber of Commerce also proposed that the province target the federal portion of the excise tax into building and maintaining the highway system, and that the government explore using 50 percent of the vehicle licensing fee and adding, say, a surcharge of $25 to the auto insurance premium. This way $100 million would be available for infrastructure improvements each year.

Within the different regions, presenters targeted the following transportation infrastructure projects as priorities for government assistance: • construction and upgrading of roads in the north; • expansion of the Cranbrook airport in the East Kootenays; • upgrading of the Kamloops airport; • development of the Port of Prince Rupert as a container port in the northwest; and • constructing another Fraser River crossing and upgrading the Albion ferry and the Mount Lehman overpass in the Fraser Valley.

T HEME 7: CONTINUE TO REFORM THE TAX SYSTEM TO HELP REVITALIZE THE ECONOMY Almost without exception, representatives of the business community welcomed the corporate income tax cuts, the repeal of the corporate capital tax, the elimination of the PST on machinery and equipment, and the reduction in the top marginal income tax rate. However, they identified the need to make BC’s tax system more competitive with other jurisdictions. To level the playing field with Alberta, for example, presenters in the East Kootenays and the Peace region urged the government to consider adopting a differential PST rate for the border towns of BC to stem the estimated loss of approximately $230 million in retail revenue each year to Alberta.

Another concern was that if Alberta continued its aggressive tax reduction program, British Columbia could perhaps fall behind in the future unless the Ministry of Finance announced what the future tax rates would be here in BC. The BC Institute of Chartered Accountants, for example, suggested that the 2003 Budget provide specific year-by-year tax rates that provide certainty for investors comparing British Columbia to other jurisdictions.

The province’s chartered accountants also proposed two other tax policy changes in the next budget to assist business: a gradual reduction of the general corporate income tax rate to 8 percent, and a gradual increase of the small business threshold from $300,000 to $400,000. They also suggested harmonizing the federal GST and the PST in the 2003 Budget to reduce compliance and administrative costs for business, and to increase PST revenue currently lost on e-commerce sales. The BC Agriculture Council also favoured harmonization, stating that the adoption of the GST farm input tax credit system would realize significant cost savings.

Other presenters also found complying with the PST rules required too much paperwork and imposed extra costs. The owner of a Victoria-based company, for example, described the complexity of the PST regulations as an “onerous burden to BC business,” pointing out that the GST collects

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 9 roughly the same amount of tax but requires one-tenth the effort for a business to administer. His request was for concise rules and simple administration.

The Committee also heard some concerns, especially from small and medium-sized businesses, about the negative impact of the 0.5 percent increase in the provincial sales tax. For example, representatives of the retail sector were worried about its impact on consumer spending and called on the government to reduce the PST when the deficit has been eliminated.

Requests for PST exemptions on port terminals and for the film industry were also made to increase the competitiveness of these sectors. In addition, the Business Council of BC proposed exempting more categories of business inputs from the 7.5 percent sales tax, by extending the existing exemption to also include energy, building materials and legal services. The Council also called for the phasing out of the provincial capital tax on financial institutions in BC.

T HEME 8: PAY DOWN THE DEBT Another clear message from the public was the need for the government to start planning how it proposes to pay down the debt so as not to saddle future generations with debt-servicing costs. Several witnesses thought it was important for the government to announce its long-term debt management plan in the next two provincial budgets, with measurable targets identified in 2005/06. This plan would be a signal to investors outside British Columbia that they would not be stuck with a large amount of future taxes to reduce the debt, if they invested here.

In terms of the proportion of funds to be allocated for debt reduction, once there is a modest surplus in 2005/06, the public proposed percentages ranging from zero right through to 100 percent. While they disagreed over the proportions, there was general agreement among concerned taxpayers and owners of small and medium-sized businesses on the desirability of targeting some funds in 2005/06 for debt reduction, as the following quotes show:

“We now have a provincial debt of $36 billion, and a huge amount of our tax dollars has to be spent on interest alone. Not only must you produce a budget that’s sustainable, but debt-servicing costs must continue to spiral downward so that my children will be able to live in BC without spending all of their earnings on taxes.” (Jim Krauss)

“Once the BC government balances the budget in 2004/05, it then needs to go down the long road of reducing debt. I urge the government not to spend on the backs of future generations.” (BC3P Consulting)

“We would encourage you to make debt reduction a high priority. There is nothing more debilitating to government, business or to individuals than debt. It limits growth today and diminishes future potential.” (Aquila Networks Canada Ltd.)

10 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS THE PUBLIC’S IDEAS ON HOW TO GENERATE REVENUE

The need for the government to focus more on revenue generation was another very clear message we heard at the hearings. The public’s ideas are summarized under themes 9 and 10.

T HEME 9: BE CREATIVE ABOUT GENERATING REVENUE VIA ECONOMIC GROWTH Every community we visited wanted to be part of revitalizing the economy. People pointed to the obvious advantage of achieving a balanced budget through revenue enhancement rather than by simply cutting program spending. Despite this, they perceived that the focus of government has been more on cutting jobs and services and allocating expenditures, rather than concentrating on building the economy — a focus that would generate the revenues required to fund the services desired by British Columbians. In fact, the Business Council of BC urged the Committee to make economic growth “the centrepiece” of our report to government.

The public had a lot of different ideas about how to promote economic development and generate additional tax revenue. With regard to marketing, people made the following suggestions: • Adopt a Buy BC policy for hi-tech products developed locally. • Market the north of BC as a world-class tourist destination. • Match the wine industry’s investment of $500,000 a year for market development and the promotion of wine industry tourism. • Promote the province as a can-do place by working with local market experts. • Sell BC as a desirable location for the film industry, by restoring the budget of the BC Film Commission and its mandate as an international marketing body, by continuing to fund regional film commissions and by expanding regional tax incentives to create jobs. To expand the resource sector of the provincial economy, some ideas were: • Adopt the five-point plan of the mining industry and spend more money on minerals exploration to improve the competitiveness of this sector. • Collaborate with the upstream oil and gas industry to find ways to encourage and fast-track exploration for existing and new basins. • Mobilize companies that have excess manufacturing capacity to become involved in the oil and gas industry, and develop a framework for first nations participation in energy exploration and development. • Develop a land-leasing program to encourage the establishment of wind-generated power on the North Island. • Expedite shellfish aquaculture to create jobs. • Increase the number and size of woodlots in rural BC. To attract more investment, the business community put forward such ideas as:

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 11 • Adopt a sectoral approach to regulatory reform that would identify on an industry basis the three or four most important regulatory impediments to new investment and the expansion of existing businesses. • Provide speedy access to venture capital for small hi-tech companies. • Redirect small business venture capital programs into resource-based regions. • Use flow-through shares as drivers for public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects and to encourage other types of investments.

T HEME 10: LOBBY O TTAWA FOR MORE DOLLARS The Committee heard quite often throughout the public hearing process that people wanted the government to lobby the federal government for more health care dollars, and for a more equitable share of the large sums generated by the federal excise tax on gasoline. Requests were also made for the province itself to contribute funds as a partner in cost-shared initiatives or P3-type projects, in order to leverage additional monies for the agricultural industry, the high tech sector and for the indirect costs of university-based research.

Simply improving dialogue and relations with Ottawa would also have other spin-off benefits for the provincial economy. As one local mayor pointed out, the federal government holds the keys to the expansion of BC’s aquaculture industry and the establishment of an offshore oil and gas industry, and to resolving the softwood lumber dispute, all of which are critical for the province’s economic recovery.

12 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

After due consideration, the Committee believes the government should stay the course and continue with its plan to balance the budget by 2004/05. We recognize that budget-making involves making difficult choices at the best of times, and that the financial decisions about any additional spending in the next two budgets will have to be made within the constraints of the existing fiscal plan and the ministry spending targets.

Nonetheless, based on the public’s compelling testimony, we think some fine-tuning is needed in the next two budgets to assist British Columbians living in rural resource-dependent communities, to assist rural and urban schools adjust to the new funding arrangements for K-to-12 education, to secure investment for improving the province’s transportation infrastructure, and to help the working poor with their child care costs. Therefore we recommend:

1. That the government provide some form of assistance in the 2003 Budget to resource- dependent rural communities, affected by government restructuring and the softwood lumber dispute, during the difficult transition period.

The Committee thinks the growing gap between rural British Columbia and the large urban centres has to be addressed now. The situation is becoming critical for resource-dependent communities hit hard by the combined impact of the government’s restraint program and the current economic uncertainty in forestry and the mining sector.

2. That the government give serious consideration to providing additional transitional funding for the K-to-12 education system.

During the public hearings, the Committee was struck forcibly by how much financial pressure educators working in the K-to-12 system seemed to be experiencing as they try to adjust to the new funding formula for school districts. We think the shortage of funds is reaching a critical stage for rural schools and schools-based programs in urban areas.

3. That the government consider making transportation infrastructure a top priority for capital spending now and in the future.

The Committee thinks it is essential to have a quality, integrated transportation network to serve as the backbone for the economic development of all regions of the province and to realize the full potential of the province’s natural resources.

4. Finally, another fine-tuning adjustment the government could consider making is to raise the current income threshold for the child care subsidy.

The Committee thinks there is a strong case for assisting parents who qualify as the working poor with their child care costs. We are concerned that the recent reduction in the income threshold can act as a disincentive to keeping a job, or to securing paid employment, for a significant number of people.

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 13 APPENDIX 1 – SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

June 26, 2002 Victoria Organization July 18, 2002 Victoria Planning Session September 13, 2002 Vancouver Briefings September 19, 2002 Victoria Public Hearing September 20, 2002 Campbell River Public Hearing September 23, 2002 Vancouver Public Hearing September 24, 2002 North Vancouver Public Hearing October 2, 2002 Kelowna Public Hearing October 2, 2002 Kamloops Public Hearing October 3, 2002 Kimberley Public Hearing October 3, 2002 Nelson Public Hearing October 15, 2002 Abbotsford Public Hearing October 15, 2002 Richmond Public Hearing October 16, 2002 Prince George Public Hearing October 16, 2002 Fort St. John Public Hearing October 17, 2002 Smithers Public Hearing October 23, 2002 Victoria Deliberations October 30, 2002 Victoria Deliberations November 6, 2002 Victoria Deliberations

14 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS APPENDIX 2 – ORGANIZATIONS TAKING PART IN THE 2003 BUDGET CONSULTATION PROCESS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT POPULATION Municipalities City of Dawson Creek (Mayor Wayne Dahlen) 11,789 City of Fort St. John (Mayor Steve Thorlakson) 17,129 City of Nelson (Mayor Gary Exner) 9,853 City of North Vancouver (Terry Christie, Director of 45,330 Finance) City of Prince George (Mayor Colin Kinsley) 81,506 Town of Smithers (Mayor Brian Northup) 6,145 Village of Burns Lake (Mayor Paul H. Jean) 1,895 Village of Telkwa (Mayor Sharon Hartwell) 1,426 District of Houston (Mayor Tom Euverman) 4,173 District of Port Hardy (Mayor Russ Hellberg) 5,283 District of Tumbler Ridge (Mayor Clay Iles) 2,326 Regional districts Mount Waddington (Chair Bill Shephard) 15,154 POLITICAL PARTIES MEMBERSHIP Provincial Green Party of BC 3,000 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERSHIP Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce 800 businesses Aquila Networks Canada Ltd. 400 employees Automobile Dealers Association of Prince George n/a BC Agriculture Council 10,000 BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines 2,400 BC Automobile Dealers Association 350 dealers BC Chamber of Commerce 27,000 businesses BC Construction Association 1,700 contractors BC Fruit Growers’ Association 641 BC Professional Firefighters Association 3,200 BC Real Estate Association 12 boards BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association 10,000 operators BC Salmon Farmers Association 60 companies BC Sports Property Association 8 member org’s BC Technology Industries Association 460 firms BC Trucking Association n/a BC Wharf Operators’ Association n/a BC Wine Institute 53 wineries BC3P Consulting n/a Boliden-Westmin Canada Ltd., Myra Falls Operation 3,700 employees Brown’s Bay Packing Co. Ltd 200 employees Business Council of BC 175 firms Canada West Ski Areas Association 300 businesses Canadian Bankers Association (26,835 employees in BC) Canadian Federation of Independent Business 10,000 mbrs (BC) Canadian Home Builders’ Association 6,000 firms Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. 9700 agents (BC) Canadian Wood Council – Wood Works! 14 member org’s

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 15 Cariboo Mining Association n/a Certified General Accountants Association of BC 8,000 CGAs Craft Brewers Association of BC 10 breweries Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce 450 members Discovery Capital Corp. N/a Dynamic Engineering n/a EEC Industries Ltd. 72 employees Federation of BC Woodlot Associations 28 member assoc’s Fernie Chamber of Commerce 270 businesses Fire Chiefs Association of BC n/a Fording Coal Ltd. n/a Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce n/a Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce 500 members Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 1600 businesses Huxham & Co. Chartered Accountants 25 employees Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC 8,300 Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC 8,500 CAs Insurance Bureau of Canada 120 companies Interior Value-Added Wood Association 30 companies International Forest Products Ltd. 3,500 employees International Selkirk Loop 300 collaborating businesses Kamloops Chamber of Commerce 600 businesses Kelowna Chamber of Commerce 1,400 Legend Coronet Realty Ltd. n/a Lignum Ltd. 500 employees LogicLynx Technologies Inc. n/a Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing n/a Mining Association of BC n/a Myra Systems Corp. 40 employees National Farmers’ Union n/a Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce 350 members North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce n/a Northern B.C. Construction Association 300 firms Northern Society of Oilfield Contractors and Service Firms 100 firms Novus Insurance n/a Okanagan Science & Technology Council n/a Okanagan Shuswap Manufacturers’ Association 2000 Okanagan Spring Brewery 175 employees (BC) Overland Freight Lines Ltd. 200 employees Prince George Chamber of Commerce 1000 businesses Pro-Tech Resources Ltd. 30 employees + 60 part-time Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of BC 130 dealers Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc. n/a Retail BC 3,500 members Retail Council of Canada 9,000 members Royal Caribbean International – Celebrity Cruises 6 ships Sander Wrixon Downie, Chartered Accountants n/a Shaw Communications Inc. 2,700 employees

16 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Urban Development Institute – Pacific Region (and 400 firms Kelowna Chapter) Vancouver Board of Trade 4,300 firms Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, Abbotsford n/a Community Branch Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre (VIATeC) 650 members Victoria Chinese Commerce Association n/a Victoria Real Estate Board n/a WCG International Consultants Ltd. 130 employees Western Brewers Association 6 brewers Western Canada Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Association 2,500 operators (BC) Western Concrete Products n/a Western Industrial Clay Products Ltd. n/a Westpoint Multimedia n/a Weyerhaeuser Co. Ltd. 5,000 employees Woman’s Place Health and Fitness Inc. 36 employees Other Campbell River Economic Development Corporation n/a Cranbrook Development Authority n/a Island North Film Commission 8 locations Prince George Development Corporation n/a Prince Rupert Economic Development Commission n/a Venture Kamloops n/a

LABOUR UNIONS MEMBERSHIP

BC Federation of Labour 475,000 BC Government & Service Employees’ Union 62,000 BC Teachers’ Federation 45,000 Canadian Union of Public Employees – BC Division (and 65,000 (BC) CUPE Local 3742) Kitimat-Terrace and District Labour Council 5,500 Peace River North Teachers’ Association n/a Prince George District Teachers’ Association 1,000 Richmond Teachers’ Association n/a Union of BC Performers n/a

EDUCATION SECTOR (K-12) STUDENTS

School Districts Comox Valley School District 9,791 New Westminster School District 6,038 Peace River North School District 6,002 Saanich School District 9,018 Sooke School District 9,387 Schools Bamfield Community School Association 72 Blueberry Creek Community School Council 36 Cedar School and Community Enhancement Society 519 Craigflower Elementary School 210 Denman Island Community Education Society 69 Georgia Avenue Community School Staff Committee 462 James Bay Community School Society 269

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 17 John Maclure Community School Society 323 Redford Community School 152 Spectrum Community School Association 730 Parent Advisory Bamfield Community School Parent Advisory Council 72 Councils BC Parent Voices 700+ concerned parents Burnside Community School Parent Advisory Council 165 David Livingstone Elementary School Parent’s Advisory 349 Council Hampton Community School Parent Advisory Council 343 Harwin Community School Parent Advisory Council 166 James Bay Community School Parent Advisory Council 269 John Maclure Community School Parent Advisory Council 323 John Robson School Parent Advisory Council 420 L’Ecole Quadra Parent Advisory Council 402 Lord Kelvin Community School Parent Advisory Council 480 Lord Strathcona Elementary School Parent Advisory 568 Council Lord Tweedsmuir Community School Parent Advisory 490 Council Roberts Creek Community School Parent Advisory 344 Council Robson Community School Parent Advisory Council 196 Save Our Schools n/a Tyee Elementary Montessori School Parent Advisory 200 Council Vancouver Inner City Parents Group 23 schools Victoria West Community School Parent Advisory Council 280

EDUCATION SECTOR (POST-SECONDARY) STUDENTS

Colleges and universities Capilano College 7,200 College of New Caledonia n/a Okanagan University College n/a Selkirk College n/a University College of the Cariboo n/a University of BC 32,450 (FTEs) University of Victoria 14,500 (FTEs) University Presidents’ Council of BC 5 universities Faculty Associations Capilano College Faculty Association 509 College Institute Educators’ Association of BC 7,000 College of the Rockies Faculty Association 150 Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC 3,600 University College of the Cariboo Faculty Association 500 Student Societies Camosun College Students’ Society 7,800 Canadian Federation of Students 125,000 (BC) College of New Caledonia Students’ Association n/a University of BC Alumni Association 146,000 University of Victoria Graduate Students’ Society 2200 University of Victoria Students’ Society 15,000

18 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS HEALTH SECTOR MEMBERSHIP

Brain Injury Associations of BC 42 regional assoc’s BC Association of Optometrists 345 BC Cancer Foundation n/a Castlegar and District Health Watch 400 members Central Okanagan Brain Injury Society n/a College of Pharmacists of BC n/a Genome BC n/a Northern Medical Society of BC n/a

COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER GROUPS

Affordable Housing Task Force, City of Richmond n/a Bulkley Valley Communities Coalition n/a Campbell River Community Action Network n/a Canadian Taxpayers Federation, BC Division 60,000 Child and Youth Committee of the Boundary n/a Communities Child and Family Counselling Association n/a Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC n/a Communities Solidarity Coalition 18 organizations Compensation and Accountability to Soaked Homeowners n/a Society Concerned Citizens of the North Peace n/a Concerned Parents of Medically Fragile Children with n/a Special Needs Council of Canadians – Kelowna chapter n/a First Call, BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition n/a Harewood Neighborhood Association n/a Matsqui-Sumas-Abbotsford Museum Society n/a North Peace Seniors Housing Society n/a North Westside Fire/Rescue n/a Parents for Child Care Steering Committee n/a Save Our Services Committee, Community Action n/a Network Smithers Social Planning Council n/a Social Planning and Research Council of BC 13,000 members Stoney Creek Community Council n/a Touchstone Family Association – Richmond n/a Valhalla Wilderness Society n/a West Kootenay Family & Childcare Services Society n/a Youthquest! Lesbian and Gay Youth Society of BC 2000 drop-in hours

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 19 APPENDIX 3 – WITNESS LIST

Submission Witness

No. Information Karen Abramsen, Council of Canadians (Kelowna Chapter) FGS-Sub-66 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Kim Adamson, West Kootenay Family & Childcare Services 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Society John D. Addison FGS-Sub-231 Basil Alexander, University of Victoria Graduate Students' FGS-Sub-15 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Society Darcy Alexander, Canada West Ski Areas Association FGS-Sub-68 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Don Allan, Prince Rupert Economic Development FGS-Sub-130 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Commission Andrew Allin, Okanagan Science & Technology Council FGS-Sub-168 Roy Almas 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Carol Anderson, Parents for Child Care Steering Committee FGS-Sub-156 Dileep Athaide, College Institute Educators' Association of FGS-Sub-17 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) B.C. Don Avison, University Presidents' Council FGS-Sub-33 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Peter B. Aylen, Western Industrial Clay Products Ltd. FGS-Sub-72 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Perry Bahniwal FGS-Sub-199 Tim Baillie, British Columbia Professional Firefighters 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) +Association Naveen Bains, BC3P Consulting 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Amar Bajwa 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Pawan Bajwa 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Fred Banham, District of Tumbler Ridge FGS-Sub-127 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Dr. Roger Barnsley, University College of the Cariboo FGS-Sub-71 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Randy Bartsch 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Bill Baxter, Craft Brewers Association of British Columbia FGS-Sub-14 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) David H. Bazowski, Boliden-Westmin (Canada) Ltd., Myra FGS-Sub-24 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Falls Operations Lynda Behenna, Hampton Community School Parent FGS-Sub-213 Advisory Council Dan Berkshire FGS-Sub-23 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Dr. Katy Bindon, Okanagan University College FGS-Sub-58 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Jeff Black, Vancouver Board of Trade FGS-Sub-35 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Peter Blundell, Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-225 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) John Boucher 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Victor Bowman 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Mike Bradshaw, Aquila Networks Canada Ltd. FGS-Sub-56 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Janelle Breese Biagioni, Brain Injury Associations of B.C. FGS-Sub-146 Peter Brenneman, Urban Development Institute (Kelowna 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Chapter) Cindy Brunel, Fording Coal Ltd. FGS-Sub-83 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Allan Buch, EEC Industries Ltd. 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver)

20 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Keith Bullough, B.C. Salmon Farmers Association FGS-Sub-26 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Jacquie Burden 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Clive Burge, Concerned Parents of Medically Fragile FGS-Sub-187 Children with Special Needs David Burnie 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) David E. Burns, Child and Family Counselling Association FGS-Sub-176 Susan Burns FGS-Sub-145 Ken Burt, Okanagan University College FGS-Sub-58 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Brian Butters, Novus Insurance 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Len Bykowski, British Columbia Wine Institute FGS-Sub-64 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Lorne Calder, Prince George Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-112 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Shane Calder, Communities Solidarity Coalition FGS-Sub-152 Don Cameron FGS-Sub-70 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Alan B. Campbell FGS-Sub-65 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Heather Campbell, Harewood Neighbourhood Association FGS-Sub-172 Mac Campbell 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Vivienne Candy FGS-Sub-110 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Adriane Carr, Green Party of British Columbia FGS-Sub-204 Brian Carroll FGS-Sub-76 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Cindy Carson, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy FGS-Sub-158 Coalition Wayne Carson, North Westside Fire/Rescue FGS-Sub-61 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Dianne Carter, Cariboo Mining Association FGS-Sub-116 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Prof. Jamie Cassels, University of Victoria FGS-Sub-4 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Monika Chappell, Youthquest ! Lesbian and Gay Youth FGS-Sub-214 Society of British Columbia Robin Cherbo, Save Our Services Committee, Community FGS-Sub-89 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Action Network Rob Chipman, Legend Coronet Realty Ltd. 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Terry Christie, City of North Vancouver 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Councillor Jennifer Clarke FGS-Sub-36 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Laurene Clark, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-7 Paul Clausen, North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-48 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Robert Clift, Confederation of University Faculty FGS-Sub-38 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Associations of British Columbia Richard M. Coe, Confederation of University Faculty FGS-Sub-38 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Associations of British Columbia Andy Cohen, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc. FGS-Sub-80 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Mark Collins, Kitimat-Terrace and District Labour Council 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Kelly Contant, John Maclure Community School Society FGS-Sub-160 Lorisha Cook, Camosun College Students' Society 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Bill Cooke, VIATeC FGS-Sub-9 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Cathy Corrigan, Canadian Union of Public Employees - BC FGS-Sub-108 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Division M-J Cousins, Venture Kamloops FGS-Sub-67 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) John Cowperthwaite, Institute of Chartered Accountants of FGS-Sub-226 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver)

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 21 British Columbia John Crawford FGS-Sub-106 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Michael Crawford FGS-Sub-224 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Hugh Creighton FGS-Sub-143 Lyall W. Creighton, Dynamic Engineering FGS-Sub-141 Joan Crisp, Lord Tweedsmuir Community School Parent FGS-Sub-174 Advisory Council Brad Cronquist, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-57 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Cathy Cross, Redford Community School FGS-Sub-232 Nathan Cullen, Bulkley Valley Communities Coalition; 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Smithers Social Planning Council Jim Culp FGS-Sub-192 Anthony Czernicki FGS-Sub-140 Mayor Wayne Dahlen, City of Dawson Creek FGS-Sub-123 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Dean Daly, Federation of British Columbia Woodlot FGS-Sub-133 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Associations Mark R. Daniels, Canadian Life and Health Insurance FGS-Sub-217 Association Inc. Rex Davidson, Western Canada Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers FGS-Sub-162 Association Greg D'Avignon, Western Brewers Association FGS-Sub-103 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Marko Dekovic, Western Brewers Association FGS-Sub-103 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Beth Dennahower, Fernie Chamber of Commerce 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Mark Dickie FGS-Sub-117 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Noreen Dodgson, Woman's Place Health and Fitness Inc. FGS-Sub-63 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Theresa Douglas FGS-Sub-159 Brenda Dunbar, Cariboo Mining Association FGS-Sub-116 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Charleen Dunn, Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, FGS-Sub-185 Abbotsford Community Branch Lorne D. R. Dyke FGS-Sub-151 William Ebert FGS-Sub-128 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Casey Edge, Canadian Home Builders' Association - Victoria FGS-Sub-2 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Jim Edgson, North Westside Fire/Rescue FGS-Sub-61 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Brian Edmison FGS-Sub-131 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Maureen Enser, Urban Development Institute - Pacific FGS-Sub-50 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Region David Erickson, Cariboo Mining Association FGS-Sub-116 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Martin Ertl, University of British Columbia Alumni FGS-Sub-223 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Association Brad Eshleman, British Columbia Wharf Operators' FGS-Sub-46 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Association Mayor Tom Euverman, District of Houston FGS-Sub-129 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Catherine Evans, Save Our Schools (S.O.S.) – Vancouver FGS-Sub-208 Kevin Evans, Retail Council of Canada FGS-Sub-34 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Simon Evans, British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Association Peter Ewart 16-Oct-02 (Prince George)

22 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Chris Ewasiuk, Shaw Communications Inc. FGS-Sub-19 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Mayor Gary Exner, City of Nelson FGS-Sub-88 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Melanie Fahlman-Reid, Capilano College Faculty Association FGS-Sub-49 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Bob Fedderly, Northern Society of Oilfield Contractors and 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Service Firms Ian Ferguson, WCG International Consultants Ltd. FGS-Sub-1 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Cicera Ferreira 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Jock Finlayson, Business Council of British Columbia FGS-Sub-30 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Barry Fisher, Craft Brewers Association of British Columbia FGS-Sub-14 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Rick Foulger FGS-Sub-147 John P. Fox, Royal Caribbean International - Celebrity FGS-Sub-139 Cruises Ian Fraser, Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-86 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Dr. Thomas B. Friedman, University College of the Cariboo FGS-Sub-69 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Faculty Association Wilf Fuerst 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Karon Fuson FGS-Sub-44 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Paul Galinski, Island North Film Commission FGS-Sub-22 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Penny Gambell, British Columbia Fruit Growers' Association FGS-Sub-109 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Chief Len Garis, Fire Chief’s Association of British Columbia FGS-Sub-222 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Katia Gauvin, James Bay Community School Parent Advisory FGS-Sub-157 Council Brian Gentles, Fort Motors Ltd.: BC Automobile Dealers FGS-Sub-122 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Association Dr. John Gentles, British Columbia Association of FGS-Sub-121 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Optometrists Michael Geoghegan FGS-Sub-94 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Robb Gibbs, John Robson Community School Parent FGS-Sub-205 Advisory Council G. E. Giesbrecht FGS-Sub-183 Patrick Giesbrecht 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Jonas Gifford, University of Victoria Students' Society FGS-Sub-16 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Brian Giles FGS-Sub-28 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Baldev Gill, Union of B.C. Performers FGS-Sub-196 Guparit Gill 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Nab Gill, Westpoint Multimedia 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Erika Godfrey, Craigflower Elementary School FGS-Sub-230 Dianne Goldberg, BC Parent Voices (representing 700+ FGS-Sub-193 concerned parents) Michael Goldberg, Social Planning and Research Council of FGS-Sub-194 BC (SPARC BC) Shelagh W. Gourlay, Cedar School and Community FGS-Sub-175 Enhancement Society Councillor Dave Gracey 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Carman Graf 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Rebecca Grant, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-7 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Darcy Gregory, Cranbrook & District Chamber of FGS-Sub-81 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley)

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 23 Commerce Sharon Gregson, Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C. FGS-Sub-32 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Paul Griffin, Canadian Bankers Association FGS-Sub-216 Dennis Groves, Coast Mountain Chev Olds Ltd.: British FGS-Sub-135 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Columbia Automobile Dealers Association George Hamilton, BC Agriculture Council FGS-Sub-101 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Heather Hannaford, School District 60 – Peace River North 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Marilyn Hannah, CUPE Local 3742 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Justin Harbord, Novus Insurance 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Fiona Harris, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Retail and FGS-Sub-99 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Services Committee Mayor Sharon Hartwell, Village of Telkwa FGS-Sub-132 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Michele Hayes FGS-Sub-197 Mayor Russ Hellberg, District of Port Hardy 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Anne Hetherington 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) George Heyman, B.C. Government & Service Employees’ FGS-Sub-150 Union Lee Hill, Prince George Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-112 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Philip Hochstein, Independent Contractors and Businesses 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Association of British Columbia Dave Holmberg 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Patty Holmes, Lord Tweedsmuir Community School Parent FGS-Sub-174 Advisory Council Chris Holt, LogicLynx Technologies Inc. FGS-Sub-12 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Louise Hoogewerf, Tyee Elementary Montessori School FGS-Sub-202 Parent Advisory Council Rae Hopkins, Bamfield Community School Association FGS-Sub-170 Leah Hough, Camosun College Students' Society 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) George Hunter, British Columbia Technology Industries 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Association Paul Hunter 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Darlene Hyde, British Columbia Automobile Dealers FGS-Sub-104 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Association Mayor Clay Iles, District of Tumbler Ridge FGS-Sub-127 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Dawn Isaac, John Maclure Community School Parent FGS-Sub-180 Advisory Council Sameer Ismail 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Harry Jaako, Discovery Capital Corp. FGS-Sub-45 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Robert Jackson, Castlegar & District Health Watch FGS-Sub-90 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Chuck Jean FGS-Sub-148 Mayor Paul H. Jean, Village of Burns Lake FGS-Sub-137 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Claus Jensen, Overland Freight Lines Ltd. FGS-Sub-52 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Amaljeet Jhand, Concerned Citizens of North Peace 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Mark Jiles, B.C. Sports Property Association 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Ron Johnston FGS-Sub-27 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Kim Kaldal, Burnside Community School Parent Advisory FGS-Sub-229 Council

24 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Garry Kalinski, International Selkirk Loop FGS-Sub-87 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Fred and Rita Katzel FGS-Sub-155 Dr. Bert Kelly, Northern Medical Society of BC 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Irvin Kew, Victoria Chinese Commerce Association FGS-Sub-11 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) P. Killman FGS-Sub-149 Mayor Colin Kinsley, City of Prince George FGS-Sub-111 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Joanne Kitt 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Al Klassen, Richmond Teachers' Association FGS-Sub-215 Rick Knudson, Okanagan Spring Brewery FGS-Sub-105 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Pat Koski, Fording Coal Ltd. FGS-Sub-83 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Pete Kossey 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Jim Krauss FGS-Sub-120 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Hank Kroeker, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, FGS-Sub-98 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Agriculture Committee Larry Kuehn, British Columbia Teachers' Federation FGS-Sub-107 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Terry Lalari 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Jerry Lampert, Business Council of British Columbia FGS-Sub-30 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Paul R. Landry, British Columbia Trucking Association FGS-Sub-227 Jill Lane, School District 71 – Comox Valley FGS-Sub-169 Jean Leahy, National Farmers' Union FGS-Sub-124 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Ken Leboe, Automobile Dealers Association of Prince FGS-Sub-113 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) George; British Columbia Automobile Dealers Association Angela Lee FGS-Sub-177 Dr. Greg Lee, Capilano College FGS-Sub-47 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Les Lengyel 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Margaret Little, Peace River North Teachers' Association FGS-Sub-125 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Gary Livingstone, Mining Association of British Columbia FGS-Sub-29 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) David Lo FGS-Sub-177 Roger Lockwood, Western Concrete Products FGS-Sub-188 Cheryl Longridge, Concerned Parents of Medically Fragile FGS-Sub-187 Children with Special Needs Helesia Luke, Tyee Elementary Montessori School Parent FGS-Sub-202 Advisory Council Miles Lunn FGS-Sub-42 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Marilyn Luscombe, Selkirk College FGS-Sub-85 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Faye Lutz, Georgia Avenue Community School, Staff FGS-Sub-190 Committee Linda Lytle, College of Pharmacists of British Columbia FGS-Sub-40 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Allana MacAulay, Concerned Citizens of North Peace 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Mary MacAulay, Lord Strathcona Elementary School Parent FGS-Sub-181 Advisory Committee Bethia Macey, Roberts Creek Community School Parent FGS-Sub-201 Advisory Council Karen MacKay, Prince George District Teachers' Association FGS-Sub-210 Norm MacLeod, North Westside Fire/Rescue FGS-Sub-61 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Carmen Maretic, Compensation and Accountability to FGS-Sub-92 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford)

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 25 Soaked Homeowners Society Christine Marshall, Lord Kelvin Community School Parent FGS-Sub-186 Advisory Council Patrick Marshall, Campbell River Economic Development 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Corporation Thomas Marshall 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Lisa Martinson, Harwin Community School Parent Advisory FGS-Sub-221 Council Janet Marwick, Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of FGS-Sub-100 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) British Columbia Jaime Matten, Canadian Federation of Students FGS-Sub-41 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Michael McCoy, Touchstone Family Association - Richmond FGS-Sub-51 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Colleen McCrory, Green Party of BC 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Summer McFadyen, Canadian Federation of Students FGS-Sub-41 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Dr. Robert McGuinness, Northern Medical Society of BC 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Donald McInnes, BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Bob McKay 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Velma McKay, College of the Rockies Faculty Association FGS-Sub-79 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Al McNair, Kamloops Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-78 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Mary McNeil, British Columbia Cancer Foundation FGS-Sub-53 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Rob Mealey, College of New Caledonia Students' Association FGS-Sub-115 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Michael B. Mehr FGS-Sub-163 Joan Miller, Island North Film Commission FGS-Sub-22 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Ruth Miller FGS-Sub-182 Kevin Millership 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Robert Mitten FGS-Sub-154 Robin Modesto, International Forest Products Ltd. FGS-Sub-25 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Tammy Monsell, Fernie Chamber of Commerce 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Rita Montgomery FGS-Sub-207 Roseanne Moran, College Institute Educators' Association of FGS-Sub-17 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) B.C. Leah Muirhead 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Jack Murphy, Myra Systems Corp. FGS-Sub-5 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Veronica Murphy, College of New Caledonia Students' FGS-Sub-115 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Association John Murray 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Amed Naqvi FGS-Sub-138 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Patricia Nichol, Spectrum Community School Association FGS-Sub-212 Ray Nickel, BC Agriculture Council FGS-Sub-101 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Mayor Brian Northup, Town of Smithers FGS-Sub-134 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Jeff Nugent, Canadian Federation of Independent Business FGS-Sub-8 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Pastor Alvin Oberhammer, North Peace Seniors Housing 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Society Gerry Offet, Prince George Development Corporation 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Cindy Oliver, College Institute Educators' Association of FGS-Sub-17 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) B.C.

26 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Roger Oliver, International Selkirk Loop FGS-Sub-87 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Lindsay Olson, Insurance Bureau of Canada FGS-Sub-10 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Kathleen A. O'Malley, Child and Youth Committee of the FGS-Sub-195 Boundary Communities Barry O'Neill, Canadian Union of Public Employees - BC FGS-Sub-108 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Division Brenda Osmond, College of Pharmacists of British Columbia FGS-Sub-40 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) John Ostaf FGS-Sub-106 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Gillian Ovens FGS-Sub-203 Denis Painchaud, Aquila Networks Canada Ltd. FGS-Sub-56 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Agnes Papke, University of British Columbia Alumni FGS-Sub-223 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Association Helen Parker, School District 63 – Saanich FGS-Sub-13 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Scott Payne, University of Victoria Students' Society FGS-Sub-16 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Paul Perkins, Weyerhaeuser Co. Ltd. FGS-Sub-31 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Warren Perks, British Columbia Construction Association FGS-Sub-18 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Sharon Petten, Robson Community School Parent Advisory FGS-Sub-218 Council Bradley A. Piercy, Huxham & Co. Chartered Accountants FGS-Sub-55 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Ken Pike, Brown's Bay Packing Co. Ltd. 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Conrad Pinette, Lignum Ltd. FGS-Sub-43 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Dennis Pinvidic, LogicLynx Technologies Inc. FGS-Sub-12 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Dorte Pittaway FGS-Sub-178 Brian Powell-Clendenning 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Barb Presseau FGS-Sub-153 Kim Priest, Bamfield Community School Parent Advisory FGS-Sub-171 Council Tom Prior 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Dennis Prouse, Insurance Bureau of Canada FGS-Sub-10 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Dr. Jim Rae, WCG International Consultants Ltd. FGS-Sub-1 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Al Raine FGS-Sub-77 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Doug Rankmore, Central Okanagan Brain Injury Society FGS-Sub-144 David Reay, Affordable Housing Task Force, City of 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Richmond Richard Rees, Institute of Chartered Accountants of British FGS-Sub-226 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Columbia Gordon Reid, International Selkirk Loop FGS-Sub-87 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Don Reimer, Denman Island Community Education Society FGS-Sub-228 Ted H. Renner FGS-Sub-84 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Darcy Rezac, Vancouver Board of Trade FGS-Sub-35 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Michael Riis-Christianson, Village of Burns Lake FGS-Sub-137 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Denise Riley, School District 62 – Sooke FGS-Sub-198 Jeanette Robertson FGS-Sub-224 Chris Roine FGS-Sub-37 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Colleen Ross FGS-Sub-21 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Esmée Rothschild, L’Ecole Quadra Parent Advisory Council FGS-Sub-219

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 27 Glenn Rousseau, Interior Value Added Wood Association; FGS-Sub-62 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Okanagan Shuswap Manufacturers' Association Scott P. Rowsell, Pro-Tech Forest Resources Ltd. FGS-Sub-136 17-Oct-02 (Smithers) Brian Ruddell 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Gordon Ruth, Certified General Accountants Association of 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) British Columbia Garry Ryan, Save Our Services Committee, Community FGS-Sub-89 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Action Network Nancy J. Ryan FGS-Sub-189 Suromitra Sanatina, Canadian Federation of Independent FGS-Sub-8 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Business Ben Sander, CA, Sander Wrixon Downie, Chartered FGS-Sub-126 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Accountants Armindo C. Santos FGS-Sub-177 Connie Sarrazin FGS-Sub-20 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Doreen and Donald Savien FGS-Sub-200 Janis Sawley 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Bruce Schmidt, Genome British Columbia FGS-Sub-54 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Helen Secco, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-93 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Al Sello, Vancouver Board of Trade FGS-Sub-35 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Sherry Sethen, Prince George Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-112 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Dr. Lal Sharma 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) John Sheehan, Cranbrook Development Authority FGS-Sub-82 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Bill Shephard, Regional District of Mount Waddington FGS-Sub-142 Anne Sherrod, Valhalla Wilderness Society FGS-Sub-91 03-Oct-02 (Nelson) Savik Sidhu 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Jim Sinclair, BC Federation of Labour 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Carrie Sjostrom, Campbell River Community Action 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Network Carman J.M. Smith FGS-Sub-75 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Chris Smith, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, FGS-Sub-95 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Transportation and Community Development Committee Ken Smith, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Tourism FGS-Sub-96 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Committee Kristi Smith, Stoney Creek Community Council FGS-Sub-220 Tim Spiegel, Canadian Wood Council - Wood Works! FGS-Sub-59 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Don Startin FGS-Sub-191 Don Startin, Communities Solidarity Coalition FGS-Sub-152 Mark Startup, Retail BC FGS-Sub-34 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Dawn Steele, David Livingstone Elementary School Parent's FGS-Sub-165 Advisory Council Chris Steinbach 24-Sep-02 (North Vancouver) Anne Marie Stewart 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Tony Stewart, British Columbia Wine Institute FGS-Sub-64 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Todd Stone, University College of the Cariboo FGS-Sub-71 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Christine Stoneman, James Bay Community School Society FGS-Sub-167 Nettie Stupnikoff, Blueberry Creek Community School FGS-Sub-164

28 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS Council Susan Swanson FGS-Sub-184 Carol Tahsuda, Peace River North Teachers' Association FGS-Sub-125 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Justin Tee 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Merle Terlesky FGS-Sub-74 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Glenn Terrell, Victoria Real Estate Board FGS-Sub-6 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Sarah Thomson, Victoria West Community School Parent FGS-Sub-211 Advisory Council Steve Thomson, BC Agriculture Council FGS-Sub-101 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford) Mayor Steve Thorlakson, City of Fort St. John FGS-Sub-119 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Rosalind Thorn, Northern B.C. Construction Association FGS-Sub-114 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Stephanie Tipple, Island North Film Commission FGS-Sub-22 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) Kim Toombs, Communities Solidarity Coalition FGS-Sub-152 Mary Tracey, Canadian Wood Council - Wood Works! FGS-Sub-59 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Allan Trelford, Victoria Real Estate Board FGS-Sub-6 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Allan Tupper, University of British Columbia FGS-Sub-39 23-Sep-02 (Vancouver) Nina Turner, Victoria West Community School Parent FGS-Sub-211 Advisory Council Tim Vasko, LogicLynx Technologies Inc. FGS-Sub-12 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Grant Veale, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing FGS-Sub-73 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Ken Veldman, Prince George Development Corporation 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Victor Vrsnik, Canadian Taxpayers Federation - BC Office FGS-Sub-118 16-Oct-02 (Prince George) Mary Ellen Walling, B.C. Salmon Farmers Association FGS-Sub-26 20-Sep-02 (Campbell River) A. Peter Wannop FGS-Sub-60 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Karen Watt, Kamloops Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-78 02-Oct-02 (Kamloops) Ken Webster, Urban Development Institute (Kelowna 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna) Chapter) Pierre Welbedagt, John Maclure Community School Society FGS-Sub-160 Terry Weninger, College of New Caledonia FGS-Sub-166 Jason Wheeldon, Cranbrook & District Chamber of FGS-Sub-81 03-Oct-02 (Kimberley) Commerce Dennis Wilson, British Columbia Real Estate Association FGS-Sub-6 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) John Winter, British Columbia Chamber of Commerce FGS-Sub-102 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Andrew Wong FGS-Sub-177 Cynthia Wong, Vancouver Inner City Parents Group FGS-Sub-173 Cynthia and Albert Wong FGS-Sub-206 Thea Wood, Robson Community School Society FGS-Sub-218 Neil Worboys, British Columbia Teachers' Federation FGS-Sub-107 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Dr. John B. Woudzia, School District 40 – New Westminster FGS-Sub-209 Lynne Wright, Matsqui-Sumas-Abbotsford Museum Society FGS-Sub-161 Barb Wutzke FGS-Sub-3 19-Sep-02 (Victoria) Andrew Wynn-Williams, British Columbia Chamber of FGS-Sub-102 15-Oct-02 (Richmond) Commerce Gus Yeoman, Fort St. John and District Chamber of 16-Oct-02 (Fort St. John) Commerce Karen Young, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Education FGS-Sub-97 15-Oct-02 (Abbotsford)

BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS 29 Committee Mel Zeiler FGS-Sub-179 Seymour Zidle 02-Oct-02 (Kelowna)

30 BUDGET 2003 CONSULTATION PROCESS